Tent construction



Feb. 16 1926.

C. B. LEFFERT TENT CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1925[ZarZes Fia. 16 1926.

(1. 5:3. LEIFFERT TENT OONS'IRUGTLEON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9 i925Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,572,939 {PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. LEFFERT, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES TENTAWNING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TENT CONSTRUCTION.

if Application fil ed November 9, 1925. Seria1 No. 67,713.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CnARLn-s B. Lnrrnnr,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county ofCook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tent Constructions, of which the following isspecification This invention relates to improvements in tentconstructions and consists of the matters hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improveddoor arrangement for a tent, which includes two door members of flexiblematerial, one of which is storm proof, and the other of which is insectproof, either of which may be manipulated to close the door openingwhile the other may be folded to one side and there secured in an out ofthe way position. v

A further object of the invention is to so support the top and bottomparts of the doors that they are substantially tautwhen in closedposition and to provide a pocket '7 at one side of the door opening intowhich the free margins of the doors may be secured from either theinside or the outside of the tent.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a door arrangementfor a. tent, wherein the use of snap fasteners are eliminated, whichcosts less to manufacture, is easier to operate and is more eflicient inuse for its intended purpose.

These objects of the invention as well as others together with the manyadvantages thereof will more fully appear as I proceed with myspecification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a tent construction embodying myinvention Fig. 2 is afragmentary view in elevation on an enlarged scaleof that wall of the tent embodying the door opening and associated doormembers.

3 is a detailvertical section on a furtheren'larged scale through thatwall of the tent embodying the top part of the door openinga s taken onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

i t: l i iffi ff etjc ."Fig. 4t is a""fi"agmentary horizontal =s'ecm .fbe, a 2 w w r 4 c w F-igzo 1s still anothe horizontal sectional;

The invention is herein illustrated and described as embodied in. a tentof the socalled umbrella type but this is to be taken by way ofillustration only and not by way of limitation because as will beapparent the invention is also applicable to other types of tents wherethe, peculiar characteristics of the invention make it advantageous todo so.

' Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates as awhole a tentof the umbrella type having a front wall 2, side walls 3 3 and a rearwall 4, and associated triangularly shaped top wall or roof sections 2-3 and 4*, respectively, all of which are made of a suitable tentfabric. The front, side and rear walls in this instance are inclinedupwardly andinwardly and the associated top wallsect-ions, meet at 7-5the apex of the tent and is there provided with a. grommet 5 to receivethe usual pin 6 of the center pole. At the four corners of the tent, atthe junction of the wall and roof sections, grommets are provided'toreceive the hooks 8 associated with the arms on. the center pole.

The bottom corners of the tent may be secured to the ground in anys-uitablemannei' so that the wall and roof sections are sub stantiallytaut. In making up the front wall of thetent, I employ two front wallsections 9 and 10, the outer edges of which are cut to form the inclinedcorners and the inner margins of which are made parallel but spacedapart to provide a rectangular door opening 11 at the middle of saidfront wall. If desired a floor fabric may be embodied in the tent and ifsuch be the case, the margins thereof are attached to the bottom marginsof the side wall sections. Associated with the inner margin of the frontwall section 10 and extending from the top to the bottoin on" theinside"thei"'eof,fis a strip of flexible material stitched at 1'2; tosaid margin along a line spaced from the" edge thereof to form aflapilS, which we gether with said wall "margin defines? pocket 14 alongone side of the "door open ing, as best shown in Fip- 5. Associated withthe infierniajrgin of t e btlicfi; an section and extendiii; from gbottonron the id tlifreof i's*anbthei" of flexible rnaterian tirchecr asat""15 "t margiii'aibiig mine s ac d he the edge thereof to form a flap113, the purpose of which will later appear. At the top of the dooropening, on the outside of the front wall sections is a transverselyextending head strip 17 which overlaps at its ends upon and is securedto the top end portions of said front wall sections and is secured alongits top edge to the underside of the topwall section 2 by means of aline of stitching and a reinforcing tape as best shown at 18 in Fig. 3.i p The bottom ends of the .tlaps 13 and 16 are connected together .bya. transversely extending strip 19 which forms a suitable threshold forthe door opening and coacts with the headstrip to maintain the marginsof said wall sections in their proper relations.

Associated with the door opening 11 are inner and outer doors 20 and 21respectively, both of flexible material, the inner door being made of anopen weave fabric such as bobinet for the purpose of providingventilation to the exclusion of insects and termed an insect proo-fdoor, and the outer door being made of tent fabric and termed a stormdoor. 'llhe inner door 20 is stitched along one margin to the margin ofthe flap 16 and the outer door 21 is stitched to the margin of the frontwall section 7 near its edge as best shown in Fig. 5. The top and bottommargins of the inner door have suitably spaced eyelets 22 and 23 thereinand the top and bottom margins of the outer door are likewise providedwith eyelets 24 -25 to receive flexible members in the form of cords forsupportim said top and bottom margins of said doors when they are foldedback against the associated margin of the Wall section and unfoldedtherefrom. to open and close said door opening. A looped cord or cablehas one of its portions 27 passed through the eyelets at the top of theinner door from opposite sides of said door while its other portion 28is passed through the eyelets at the top of the outer door from oppositesides thereof as shown in Fig. 4. The looped cord is so supported as toremove the strain of therdoors from the tent fabric adjacent the dooropening as follows :--The ends of cord loops provided by the cordportions 27 and 28 extend through rings 29 and 39 respectively eachfixed to one end of an associated tape 31 and 32. The tape 31 extendsalong the inner surface of the top end of the wall section 9 and has itsother end secured to the tent fabric nearthe asse ciated eyelet 7engaged with. one of the pole hooks 8. The other tape passes between theflap 13 and the margin. of the wall sec tion 10 near its top and issecured to the tent fabric near the associated eyelet -7 engaged withthe other pole hook 8. Thus the looped cord which is drawn taut issecured to the tent fabric at points spaced the margins'of the wallsections defining the door opening so that said wall sections will notsag or be pulled out of shape. Said cord is so arranged that its endsare only tied together asshown in Fig l so that should it stretch, thisstretch may be taken up and the cord again made taut.

A second looped cord is provided for the bottoms of said door membersand said cord includes cord portions 33 and 34, the first passingthrough the grommets 23 at the bottom of the inner door from oppositesides and the second passing through the grommets at the bottom of theouter door from oppositesides as best shown in F ig. 6. The looped endsof said cord portions, pass through rings 35 and 36, respectively, thering 35, being fixed to a tape 37 secured in between the flap l6 and themargin of the wall section 9 and the other ring being fixed to a tape 38secured between the flap 13 of the margin of the wall section 10.

On the inner surface of the inner door, about midway between its top andbottom ends is located a tape 39 stitched to the door, with thestitching stopping short of the free margin of the door. The unsecuredend of the tape 39 slides through one end of a snap hook 40 and the freeend of the tape carries a ring 41. A cord 42 is fastened to said ringand the free end of this cord is adapted to be tied to a second ring 43secured to that end of the tape 39 on the fixed margin of the door. Atape M is secured to the inner surface of the outer door in a manner asjust above described and the free end of the tape slides through one endof a. snap hook 45, the extreme free end of thetape carrying a ring 46.One end of a cord 47 is fastened to said ring and its other end isadapted to be tied to a ring 18 on that end of the tape 4:4, fastened tothe margin of the wall section 9. Both hooks 410 and may be snapped upona ring 19 secured to one end of-a short tape section 50 located in thepocket 14. Should the material of the doors sag or stretch they mayagain be made taut by untying the cords 4'2 and 17 from the rings 43 and18, taking upthe sag and again retying said cords to the rings 43 and48, respectively. Should it be desired to use only the inner door sothat the door opening is closed against the entrance of insects but atthe same time to permit ventilation the outer door is pushed toward thewall sections 9, sliding upon the cord loop; portions 28 and 34 and atthe same time folding up against the margin of the wall section to whichit is attached, said door being secured in this folded position byinserting a tape 51 so cured to the outer surface of the wall section 9,tl'irough the ring 16. The inner door is then pulled over so that itsfree margin enters the pocket 14 and the hook 40 is snapped into thering 49. In this manner even though the door is inclined from thevertical it is supported at not only its top and bottom but also at itsmiddle, so that when used to close the door opening it is taut andsmooth. With its free margin arranged in the pocket 14, noinsects canentertherethrough and the head strip and threshold strip effectivelyprevent the en trance of insects from the top or bottom of the door.

lVhen the inner door is not needed itmay be folded back against themargin of the wall section 9 and secured thereto inan out of the wayposition. In stormy weather, the outer door may be usedto close the dooropening in the manner described in connection with the inner door. lViththe outer door in its closed position it prevents the entrance of rain,snow or wind about the margins of the door as is apparent. Should it beso desired, both doors may be opened or closed from either the inside oroutside of the tent.

In connection with the doors, I provide an improved structure, which'may be used either as an awning or another closure for the door openingas when the tent is left unoccupied. This structure includes a flap madeintegral with the top wall portion 2 and of a width equal the base ofthe same and of a depth equalling that of the front wall formed bythewall sections 9 and '10.

Vfhen used for an awning, it is extended horizontally and its free edgeis supported by poles 54:, only one ofwhich is shown in Fig. l. \Vhenused to cover the door opening, it is brought into position against thefront wall to cover the door opening and is secured thereto in anysuitable manner. Said flap being wider than the door opening, itsecurely seals the same at the sides and being integral with the topwall section presents no seam or ridge at the top of the door openingwhichwill act to collect water in case of rain or snow.

My improved construction provides a door arrangement for a tent, theadvantages of which are apparent from the foregoing description. lVhilein describing my invention I have referred to many details ofconstruction as Well as form, arrangement and location of parts, I donot wish to be limited thereto except as may be pointed out in theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tent construction embodying a tent wall having a door openingtherein, a door of flexible material secured to said tent wall at oneside of said door opening, means at the top and bottom of said dooropening providing a sliding bearing for said door which permits the sameto fold toward said side of said door opening, and coacting means onsaid door and on the tent wall at the other side of said door openingfor securing the free margin of said door thereto in a manner closingsaid door opening;

2. A tent construction embodying a tent wall having a dooropeningtherein, a door of flexible material securedwto said tent wall atone side of said door opening, flexible means at the top and bottom ofsaid door opening with which the top and bottom margins of said door areoperatively engaged for a sliding guiding bear.- ing which permitssaid'door to fold to wards said side of said door openingan'd enactingmeans on said door iand on*the tent wall at the other side ofsaid dooropening for securing the-free margin of said door thereto in a mannerolosingsaid door openin a A tent construction embodying awtent wallhaving a door opening therein, a door of flexible material securedtosaid tent wall one side of said dooriopening, adjustable flexible meansat the top :and bottom edges of the door: opening with which the top andbottom marginslof the door is operatively engagedefor asliding guidinghearing which permits saiddoor to fold toward said side of saiddooropening and coacting means on said door andon the tentwall at the otherside of said doo'r opening for securing the free margin of the doorthereto in a manner .closing said door opening. a :7;

4. A tent construction embodying a tent wall having a door openingtherein, aplurality of doors of flexible material securet to said tentwall at one sideof the door opening, a looped flexible member atathe topand bottom'of said door opening,n 1eans 011 the top and bottom of thedoors operatively engaged with the said looped flexible member providinga sliding guiding bearing for said doors so that theyflmay be foldedtoward said side of the door opening,'and means. for securing the freemarginsof-said doors to the other side of the door opening.

5. A tent construction embodying a tent wall having a door openingtherein, a plurality of doors of flexible material secured to said tentwall at one side of the door opening, a looped flexible member at thetop and bottom of said door openings, means on said tent wall foradjustably securing said member to said tent wall, the top and bottommargins of said doors having gronb mets slidable on said looped flexiblemember so that said doors have a sliding guiding bearing thereon,whereby they may be folded toward said side of the door opening andmeans for securing the free margins of the doors to the other side ofthe door openin 6. A tent construction embodying a tent wall having adoor opening therein, a door of flexible material secured to said tentwall at one side of the door opening, means at -Qwall having a dooropening therein, a door the top and bottom of said door openingPIOVldlIXg a sliding bearing for said door pocket for securing saidmargin in said pocket when the door closes said opening.

,; 7. A tent construction embodying a tent of flexible material securedtosaid tent wall at one side of the door opening, adjustable flexiblemeans at the top and bottom of said door opening providing a slidingbearing for said door which permits the same to fold toward said slde ofthe door opening, means providing a pocket extending along the otherside of the dooropenlng and coacting means on the free margin of saiddoor and in said pocket for securing said door margin "in said pocketwhen the door closes said opening.

a 8. A tent construction embodying a tent wall having a door openingtherein, two

door members of flexible material, one of which permits of ventilationtherethrough, secured to said tent wall at one side of the opening, anadjustable flexible member hav ing loop portions upon which the top andbottom margins of the doors are engaged for a folding movement towardsaid side of the door opening, and means providing a pocket 7 along theother side of the door opening to receive the free margins of said doorswhen in position to close said opening and means in said pocket adaptedto coact with de ices carried by the door for securing the free marginsof the doors in said pocket.

9. A tent construction embodying therein, a tent wall having a dooropening therein, a flap on one margin of said tent Wall along one sideof the door opening, a door of bobinet or the like fixed to said flap, asecond door of flexible material secured to said tent wall margin, alooped adjustable cord secured at the top and bottom of said dooropening, saiddoors having grommets at their tops and bottoms slidable onsaid looped adjustable cord, a flap on the margin of the tent wall atthe other side of said opening and forming 'therewith'a pocket toreceive the free margins of said doors, and means on said-door andcoacting with de vices in said pocket for securing the free margins ofsaid doors in said pockets.

10. A tent construction embodying a tent wall having a door openingtherein, a door of flexible material secured to said tent wall along'oneside of the door opening, flexible means at the top and bottom of saiddoor opening and with which the door is operatively connected for afolding movement toward said side of the door opening, and flexiblemeans on said door adapted to be connected to the margin of the tentwall at the other side of said opening for securing said door thereto,said means being adjustable to keep the door taut when closing saidopening. I

11. A tent construction embodying a tent wall having a door openingtherein, a door of flexible material secured to said tent wall along oneside of the door opening, flexible means at the top and bottom of saiddoor opening and with which the door is operatively connected for afolding movement toward said side of the door opening, means on the tentwall at the other side of the opening providing a pocket along saidother side of the door opening to receive the free margin. of said doorwhen the door is in its closed condition, and flexible means on saiddoor adapted to be connected with a device in said pocket for securingsaid door thereimsaid means being adjustable to keep the door taut whenclosing said opening.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 24th day ofOctober, 1925.

' CHARLES B. LEFFERT.

